10 Pokemon That Actually DIED in the Series
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VOICE OVER: Ashley Bowman
WRITTEN BY: Jordy McKen
There's no save file that can help these pocket monsters. Join Ashley as we look over the times across the Pokemon anime where a Pokemon actually passed away, including the likes of "Stoutland", "Lucario", "Latios",
and more!
and more!
Script written by Jordy Mcken
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most notorious, heartbreaking, and tragic demises of Pokemon depicted in the various anime series and films.
Learning about the canon history of Pokémon is fun. However, it can apparently be traumatic as well. In the episode “The Legend of X, Y, and Z!” Professor Sycamore and Alexa explore some ruins and go into the legend of the statue Aila. In the past, Jan rides off to find Yveltal, much to Alia’s concern. However, the legendary Pokémon suddenly appears, causing Jan to attack by sending out his Talonflame. Before the firebird can even land a hit, Yveltal uses Oblivion Wing, turning Talonflame into stone and disappearing into the forest below. Before Jan can grieve the loss, Alia jumps in the way of another Yveltal attack, becoming a statue. He spent years finding Xerneas to restore Alia, only to no success.
Because Celebi exists, this gives the anime a chance to take part in time-travel shenanigans. In the episode “A Timeless Encounter!,” the mythical Pokémon sends Ash and Torracat into the past, meeting a child Professor Kukui. The future Masked Royal introduces the duo to the area’s totem Pokémon, a massive Trevenant called Elder. Thanks to Ash’s help in getting rid of a Cutiefly infestation, Elder grants the ageless future champion a Firium-Z. Celebi, realizing its error, sends Ash and Torracat back to their timeline without warning. In the present day, when they look up, they see Elder, who has since passed away and become a foreboding tree in the forest.
When we’re introduced to Harriet in 2018’s “Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us,” she seems to have fallen into the wrong universe with her passionate dislike of all Pokémon. However, as we discover later, when Harriet attempts to restart the power plant, only to be stopped by fire, there’s a good reason for her behavior. When Harriet was a child, she had a Snubbull when flames erupted at the facility. She begged her partner to come back, but it went for the plant’s key. As Snubbell returned to Harriet, the flames engulfed the Pokémon, badly injuring the human's hand as well. She blamed herself for the tragedy all these years. By the end, Harriet forgives herself and begins to love Pokémon again.
Not only did 2002’s “Pokémon Heroes” film confuse fans with Ash and his Latias girlfriend, it also left the audience with trauma. In the past, Latios and Latias’s father sacrificed himself to save the people of Alto Mare, turning into a Soul Dew to power the city’s Defense Mechanism. In the present, after the gem was broken and a tidal wave was set to obliterate Alto Mare, Latias and an injured Latios dash to stop it. However, while they saved everyone, the power exerted by Latios caused him to perish. As the humans find Latias, Latios uses his “Sight Sharing” ability to show them what he can see at the end before turning into a Soul Dew to keep Alto Mare safe.
In 2016, “Pokémon Generations” was released, which gave fans short animated videos on key moments in the game franchise. “The Reawakening” episode focussed on a moment that first left its mark in the “Pokémon Gold and Silver” games. We saw how the Legendary Beasts of Suicune, Entei, and Raikou came to be. In the past, Ecruteak City’s Brass Tower was struck by lightning, setting it ablaze. Sadly, three unnamed Pokémon didn’t make it out in time. After the fire was extinguished and the broken citizens grieved, Ho-Oh arrived. The legendary Pokémon used its power to remake the lost hounds into the Legendary Beasts. Rather than celebrate, the scared citizens attacked, causing the resurrected Pokémon to depart.
2017’s “Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!” reimagined Ash’s start into becoming a Pokémon master. During this trip to find Ho-Oh, he meets Sorrel, who wants to be a Pokémon Professor. With a powerful Lucario as his partner, he seemed to have it all together. But during a heartfelt moment, Sorrel tells of his tragedy. When he was a child, he grew up with the family Luxray. One day, Sorrel was lost outside during a blizzard. Luxray found the youngster in the snow and lay on him to keep him warm. When the rescue party found them the next morning, while Sorrel was okay, Luxray had frozen. This moment understandably haunted Sorrel as he distanced himself from Pokémon. Then, he met Lucario, changing his life.
The mid-2000s Pokémon films loved dishing out audience agony regularly. This time, it's 2005’s “Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.” No one would be happy about being locked up and seemingly betrayed by their closest alley for centuries. But eventually, Lucario begins to trust again. With the Tree of Beginning in jeopardy, the humans are swallowed up by its antibodies before Mew saves them. However, with the tree dying, Ash and Lucario combine their aura to restore it. Yet the Pokémon knocks Ketchum away. While Lucario saves the day, the strain is too much, and he begins to fade away. Before he does, he witnesses Aaron’s final message explaining his actions, causing him – and the audience – to sob.
If you ever watched 1998’s “Pokémon: The First Movie” and wondered what caused Mewtwo to lash out beyond his creation and abuse, then this will explain it. “The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin,” which was on the international DVD release for 2000’s “Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns,” was a prologue to Mewtwo’s tale in the 1998 movie. We see the legendary Pokémon as a child, having telepathic conversations with Ambertwo, the clone of Dr. Fuji’s deceased daughter, and the Kanto starter clones of Squirtletwo, Charmandertwo, and Bulbasaurtwo. As the group explores Amber’s hometown, the clones begin vanishing as they perish in the real world. Eventually, only Mewtwo and Ambertwo are left. Sadly, she, too, disappears as a devastated Mewtwo watches on.
From the franchise’s video game debut, the tale of what happened to Marowak in Lavender Town has saddened fans. Yet the 2013 series, “Pokémon Origins,” which showcased the journey of Red and Blue, made it even worse. In the episode “File 2 - Cubone,” we see Marowak save her child Cubone from Team Rocket. However, she’s attacked with electrified batons, ending her life. When Red enters the Pokémon Tower to get rid of the villainous team, we see the heartbreaking reunion between Cubone and the spirit of Marowak. Now content with seeing her child one final time, Marowak goes off into the afterlife.
No episode in the series has covered Pokémon passing on as impactful as this one. After being introduced several episodes before, by “One Journey Ends, Another Begins…”, Stoutland’s time was running out as its health deteriorated. We witness the impact of the tragedy on Litten, who sees the Pokémon as a mentor-slash-parent. After leaving the Pokémon Center, Stoutland and Litten fall asleep on their couch. However, after an uncomfortable dream, when Litten awakes, Stoutland is gone. The use of the tree leaves and the rain falling, Meowth sadly watching, Professor Kukui’s reaction, and the cloud of the faithful hound made this bitterly incredible.
What was the most heartbreaking moment in Pokémon? Let us know below!
Top 10 Pokémon That Actually Died In The Series
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most notorious, heartbreaking, and tragic demises of Pokemon depicted in the various anime series and films.
#10: Jan's Talonflame
Learning about the canon history of Pokémon is fun. However, it can apparently be traumatic as well. In the episode “The Legend of X, Y, and Z!” Professor Sycamore and Alexa explore some ruins and go into the legend of the statue Aila. In the past, Jan rides off to find Yveltal, much to Alia’s concern. However, the legendary Pokémon suddenly appears, causing Jan to attack by sending out his Talonflame. Before the firebird can even land a hit, Yveltal uses Oblivion Wing, turning Talonflame into stone and disappearing into the forest below. Before Jan can grieve the loss, Alia jumps in the way of another Yveltal attack, becoming a statue. He spent years finding Xerneas to restore Alia, only to no success.
#9: Elder The Trevenant
Because Celebi exists, this gives the anime a chance to take part in time-travel shenanigans. In the episode “A Timeless Encounter!,” the mythical Pokémon sends Ash and Torracat into the past, meeting a child Professor Kukui. The future Masked Royal introduces the duo to the area’s totem Pokémon, a massive Trevenant called Elder. Thanks to Ash’s help in getting rid of a Cutiefly infestation, Elder grants the ageless future champion a Firium-Z. Celebi, realizing its error, sends Ash and Torracat back to their timeline without warning. In the present day, when they look up, they see Elder, who has since passed away and become a foreboding tree in the forest.
#8: Harriet's Snubbull
When we’re introduced to Harriet in 2018’s “Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us,” she seems to have fallen into the wrong universe with her passionate dislike of all Pokémon. However, as we discover later, when Harriet attempts to restart the power plant, only to be stopped by fire, there’s a good reason for her behavior. When Harriet was a child, she had a Snubbull when flames erupted at the facility. She begged her partner to come back, but it went for the plant’s key. As Snubbell returned to Harriet, the flames engulfed the Pokémon, badly injuring the human's hand as well. She blamed herself for the tragedy all these years. By the end, Harriet forgives herself and begins to love Pokémon again.
#7: Latios
Not only did 2002’s “Pokémon Heroes” film confuse fans with Ash and his Latias girlfriend, it also left the audience with trauma. In the past, Latios and Latias’s father sacrificed himself to save the people of Alto Mare, turning into a Soul Dew to power the city’s Defense Mechanism. In the present, after the gem was broken and a tidal wave was set to obliterate Alto Mare, Latias and an injured Latios dash to stop it. However, while they saved everyone, the power exerted by Latios caused him to perish. As the humans find Latias, Latios uses his “Sight Sharing” ability to show them what he can see at the end before turning into a Soul Dew to keep Alto Mare safe.
#6: The Three Unnamed Pokemon
In 2016, “Pokémon Generations” was released, which gave fans short animated videos on key moments in the game franchise. “The Reawakening” episode focussed on a moment that first left its mark in the “Pokémon Gold and Silver” games. We saw how the Legendary Beasts of Suicune, Entei, and Raikou came to be. In the past, Ecruteak City’s Brass Tower was struck by lightning, setting it ablaze. Sadly, three unnamed Pokémon didn’t make it out in time. After the fire was extinguished and the broken citizens grieved, Ho-Oh arrived. The legendary Pokémon used its power to remake the lost hounds into the Legendary Beasts. Rather than celebrate, the scared citizens attacked, causing the resurrected Pokémon to depart.
#5: Luxray
2017’s “Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!” reimagined Ash’s start into becoming a Pokémon master. During this trip to find Ho-Oh, he meets Sorrel, who wants to be a Pokémon Professor. With a powerful Lucario as his partner, he seemed to have it all together. But during a heartfelt moment, Sorrel tells of his tragedy. When he was a child, he grew up with the family Luxray. One day, Sorrel was lost outside during a blizzard. Luxray found the youngster in the snow and lay on him to keep him warm. When the rescue party found them the next morning, while Sorrel was okay, Luxray had frozen. This moment understandably haunted Sorrel as he distanced himself from Pokémon. Then, he met Lucario, changing his life.
#4: Lucario
The mid-2000s Pokémon films loved dishing out audience agony regularly. This time, it's 2005’s “Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.” No one would be happy about being locked up and seemingly betrayed by their closest alley for centuries. But eventually, Lucario begins to trust again. With the Tree of Beginning in jeopardy, the humans are swallowed up by its antibodies before Mew saves them. However, with the tree dying, Ash and Lucario combine their aura to restore it. Yet the Pokémon knocks Ketchum away. While Lucario saves the day, the strain is too much, and he begins to fade away. Before he does, he witnesses Aaron’s final message explaining his actions, causing him – and the audience – to sob.
#3: The Kanto Starter Clones
If you ever watched 1998’s “Pokémon: The First Movie” and wondered what caused Mewtwo to lash out beyond his creation and abuse, then this will explain it. “The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin,” which was on the international DVD release for 2000’s “Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns,” was a prologue to Mewtwo’s tale in the 1998 movie. We see the legendary Pokémon as a child, having telepathic conversations with Ambertwo, the clone of Dr. Fuji’s deceased daughter, and the Kanto starter clones of Squirtletwo, Charmandertwo, and Bulbasaurtwo. As the group explores Amber’s hometown, the clones begin vanishing as they perish in the real world. Eventually, only Mewtwo and Ambertwo are left. Sadly, she, too, disappears as a devastated Mewtwo watches on.
#2: Marowak of Lavender Town
From the franchise’s video game debut, the tale of what happened to Marowak in Lavender Town has saddened fans. Yet the 2013 series, “Pokémon Origins,” which showcased the journey of Red and Blue, made it even worse. In the episode “File 2 - Cubone,” we see Marowak save her child Cubone from Team Rocket. However, she’s attacked with electrified batons, ending her life. When Red enters the Pokémon Tower to get rid of the villainous team, we see the heartbreaking reunion between Cubone and the spirit of Marowak. Now content with seeing her child one final time, Marowak goes off into the afterlife.
#1: Stoutland
No episode in the series has covered Pokémon passing on as impactful as this one. After being introduced several episodes before, by “One Journey Ends, Another Begins…”, Stoutland’s time was running out as its health deteriorated. We witness the impact of the tragedy on Litten, who sees the Pokémon as a mentor-slash-parent. After leaving the Pokémon Center, Stoutland and Litten fall asleep on their couch. However, after an uncomfortable dream, when Litten awakes, Stoutland is gone. The use of the tree leaves and the rain falling, Meowth sadly watching, Professor Kukui’s reaction, and the cloud of the faithful hound made this bitterly incredible.
What was the most heartbreaking moment in Pokémon? Let us know below!
